Understanding the Symptoms of Chronic Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain has a number of potential causes ranging from injury to natural wear and tear. If you are suffering from chronic shoulder pain, you understand how it can impact your daily life. Whether you are no longer able to enjoy activities like golf or gardening, or you are suffering from chronic headaches and nerve pain, chronic shoulder pain can have a negative impact on your quality of life.

But what constitutes chronic shoulder pain, and how do you have if you are just experiencing slight pain and symptoms from a minor injury or muscle strain, or if you are experiencing something more serious that requires treatment? To best determine your next steps for pain relief, you need to identify the types of symptoms you are having and their severity.

The symptoms of chronic shoulder pain

Sometimes shoulder pain can be caused by an inflamed muscle from sleeping in an awkward position or overuse, or sometimes it can be caused by something more serious like injury to the shoulder joint itself, such as arthritis or tendonitis. The symptoms for both are often similar, but there are a few additional symptoms related to more serious shoulder conditions that you should be aware of. The common symptoms of shoulder pain include:

Pain in the shoulder

Numbness or tingling in the shoulder

Limited mobility

If it’s a slight shoulder injury or condition, these symptoms should go away naturally within a few weeks or less. However, if your pain and symptoms continue or worsen, you should see a doctor. Symptoms related to more serious shoulder injuries include:

Pain that travels from the shoulder to the arm, chest, neck or head

Tingling or numbness in fingers or neck

Grinding sensation when moving your shoulder

Shooting pains during movement

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your nearest physical therapist to begin treatment. Shoulder pain can often be treated nonsurgically through a series of physical therapy and other conservative treatment methods.

Find personalized shoulder pain treatment

At Arrow Physical Therapy, we offer personalized shoulder pain treatment that is tailored to your condition and your lifestyle. Our team will walk with you every step of the way during your treatment process until you are able to return to the quality of life you enjoy. We have physical therapy offices in Woodbridge, Union and Edison, New Jersey. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.